For Peter Gloddy, the man driving the SUV that sent the hydrant flying, troubles will take longer to clean up.

Gloddy, 37, 195 Crandall Road, was charged with driving under the influence on Wednesday afternoon.

Gloddy was driving a Toyota Highlander north on Main Road when he swerved to avoid a car that pulled onto Main Road from Judson Street, directly into his path, police reported.

The Toyota hit the hydrant, shearing it at its base, and then crashed into a utility pole 40 feet further north. The hydrant flew 60 feet, passing through a window of the restaurant, leaving a hole 2 feet off the ground.

Officer Joshua Pelletier and Sgt. Daniel Raymond investigated the accident. They located witnesses who confirmed Gloddy’s statement, that he swerved to avoid colliding with a car that cut in front of him, according to police Capt. Patrick Jones.

“Mr. Gloddy was given a field sobriety test at the scene,” Jones said. “It was the opinion of the investigating officers that he failed that.

“He was given a breath test and he blew a zero. He agreed to go to Newport Hospital for a blood test.” A Breathalyzer tests for the presence of alcohol in the system. Recording a zero indicates Gloddy had not had any alcoholic beverages prior to the accident.

The charge of driving under the influence was brought based on the field sobriety test. If the blood test turns up no presence of drugs, the charges could be dropped.

Gloddy is scheduled for arraignment in district court on April 24.

No one was injured in the accident. China Gourmet has four tables at the front of the establishment, but most of its business is take-out food. No one was in the dining room at the time of the crash, Zhang said.